Doing Unto Others

To the Editor:

After reading last week’s editorial entitled “Planning a Better Community,” I was reminded of my experiences on September 27. Many Newtowners, myself included, sat in traffic that day because of the tanker truck explosion, but it was also a day I’ll remember as a “Nicer in Newtown” day.

At the Newtown landfill (my reason for braving the detour traffic) both employees I encountered were pleasant, courteous, and helpful. At the supermarket down the street, the produce guy and the meat man treated me with downright kindness. Both the check-out clerk and the bagger were equally pleasant, courteous, and helpful. They were patient with the person preceding me in line who made an unusual request and held up check-out traffic for quite awhile. Then, they were courteous enough to apologize for the delay, both to me and the person waiting behind me, without ever any unkind remark about the cause. They chatted pleasantly and bagged carefully.

Courtesy on the part of employees reflects good management training practices. Hats off to all Newtowners who meet the public daily with good will and to their employers for encouraging cheerful attention to the customer. Of course, we as customers have an equal opportunity to treat them with respect and good will, remembering that they serve hundreds of strangers daily.

The days for me that are “Nicer in Newtown” are not always days when I contemplate the economic formula for tax relief or the reduction of traffic congestion. Sometimes it’s nicer in Newtown because people treat one another like neighbors, which is exactly what we all are.

Joy Kopesky

30 Parmalee Hill Road, Newtown                              October 7, 2003